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First road bike

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  • November 2, 2016 at 9:15 am #26456
    Allroy

    I’ve only ever had a basic Boardman hybrid but am now starting to get into more serious cycling.  Starting to see its limitations.  So I’m going to buy a first road bike.  Plan is to buy a decent entry level one now given its start of winter, and buy a more bells and whistles machine in spring.

     

    I’m considering the following bikes and would be interested to here if anyone has any views on them from experience:

    – Specialized Allez E5

    – B’twin Triban 520 or 540

    – Boardman Road Sport or Road Comp

     

    I will mostly be doing weekend rides through countryside, probably doing 30-49 milers.  

     

    Any views much appreciated.

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  • November 3, 2016 at 1:27 pm #881257
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    Dnnnnnn

    Black Friday is here already.

    Black Friday is here already… 

    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/chain-reaction-black-friday-deals-expect-get-285564

    November 2, 2016 at 9:15 pm #881255
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    Allroy

    Some great comments here,

    Some great comments here, thanks folks.  I’m going to explore a decent 2nd hand one as well.  I also like the sense of a wet bike and dry bike.

    Lots still to consider in this one!

    November 2, 2016 at 3:59 pm #881253
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    keef66

    I love having 2 bikes.  Not

    I love having 2 bikes.  Not winter and summer but wet and dry. 

    The wet bike’s a Racelight Tk with 9 speed Tiagra, full Chromoplastic guards and 25mm GP4S tyres. 

    The dry one is a CR1-SL with 10 speed 105 and Pro4SC tyres.

    If it’s winter but dry I’ll take the CR1, if it’s summer but wet I’ll ride the Tk, but most of the time it’s the Tk in winter and the CR1 in summer.

    (I’ve never seen the sense in a wet / winter bike without guards, however cheap it is to maintain.  If I wanted a freezing, gritty salt water enema I’d expect my medical insurance to pay for it…)

    November 2, 2016 at 2:41 pm #881251
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    Dnnnnnn

    If you’re planning on getting

    If you’re planning on getting rid of the old hybrid then maybe a really basic £300 road bike (e.g. Triban 500SE or Carrera Vanquish) with cheap-as-chips-to replace 8-speed kit, plus mudguards and tough tyres would be a better all-weather/winter bet? Or a secondhand buy.

    Alternatively, your winter hack might be a CX bike (again possibly used as there aren’t many budget options (although the Carrera Crixus looks a bargain atm; Boardman CX Comp also reduced)). That would give you a little bit more off-road capability – like a hybrid – while also making your good road bike feel better on the nice days.

    Also depends what you’re doing with your winter bike, and where. Long-ish, country rides on wet but OK roads once a week needn’t be too hard on a bike (esp. w/mudguards) but but everyday, strenuous, start-stop commuting on crumbling urban streets are hard on your wheels, brakes and gears. If you’re doing a lot of the latter then disc brakes may be worthwhile.

    November 2, 2016 at 2:29 pm #881249
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    newtonk

    Dude, consider buying a

    Dude, consider buying a secondhand bike for this winter – you’ll  get a better deal than a new cheapo (though those bikes are all decent, you could spend less 2nd hand). 

    Then by the time spring has sprung you’ll have a good idea of what you actually want in your new bestie bike (and one’s budget/requirements only EVER go one way: north! – so what you’ve saved by going 2nd hand can go towards the new one).

    November 2, 2016 at 1:57 pm #881247
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    Allroy

    Thanks for all these comments

    Thanks for all these comments.

    Black Friday is a good shout so I will check.

    In terms of having 2 road bikes, I was thinking a £500-600 bike like these might have some limitations that would make me want to upgrade before too long and in good weather.  A winter bike could get thrashed about in rain and through grit in the way I might not with a £1500 bike.  Still to decide on that though.  If some of these are good enough to be a permanent bike I’d keep them.  But if an extra £100 got me a great bike for all seasons now I’d consider that too.

    If I bought an £800 bike now I would just have 1 bike. This is just about scoping out buying a “cheap” one.

    The Boardman hybrid is too heavy (14kg) and I hate doing longer rides on it.  Not sure if I’d enjoy it for a winter bike all that much.

    November 2, 2016 at 1:10 pm #881245
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    alansmurphy

    With new models coming out
    With new models coming out you should find some bargains but I wouldn’t necessarily look to get a machine now and in spring (n+1 aside). Why not keep the Boardman for your winter ride or blow the 2 budgets on one bike and as suggested above some upgraded summer wheels.

    Unless you are thinking of becoming an absolute racer, there isn’t too many marginal gains to be had. Having a summer bike at £1500 and a winter at £800 would seem a little pointless…

    November 2, 2016 at 12:39 pm #881243
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    Dnnnnnn

    All good bikes from what I’ve

    All good bikes from what I’ve read, and all fine for what you plan to use them for, although the Triban 540 gives you high-spec Shimano 105 11-speed transmission. Not that many more “bells and whistles” you need, although perhaps you could invest in some lighter wheels next year (keep the originals for winter?)

    Perhaps more important than modest differences in on-paper specifications, though, it’s probably worth trying out your preferred bikes – they may just ‘feel’ different (e.g difference in geometry, saddles, handlebars, stiffness-v-comfort).

    There was a thread a few weeks ago which had quite a lot of discussion of similar topics – worth digging out.

    Finally, Black Friday is coming up – you may snag a bargain there, although perhaps a different brand to those you’ve identified. Lots of good options in your price range though.

     

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